This Year It Gets Personal
By: Chenaya Gerifin
North Miami Senior High
Academy of Health Sciences
On October 26, 2023, North Miami Senior High School held what could easily be considered one of the most remarkable events of the academic year. The Health Science/HOSA academy organized the annual breast cancer walk, a cherished tradition at the school. This walk serves as a means for the student body to unite in support of one of the most significant causes humanity has known. Year after year, this event is celebrated for its ability to bring students together, providing them with unique opportunities and fostering social connections among peers.
However, the motivation behind this year’s event was deeply personal. On September 14, 2023, our Academy’s lead teacher received devastating news that her mother had lost her battle with ovarian cancer. As members of this academy, we were compelled to create an event that would honor not only those affected by breast cancer but all forms of this disease. Approximately 42,000 women and 500 men in the United States succumb to breast cancer annually, with about ten million people worldwide losing their lives to various types of cancer. It stands as the cause of one in every six deaths. Recognizing its status as a leading cause of mortality in the United States, we aimed to educate our fellow students on the importance of remaining vigilant and supportive of those around us.
This year’s event featured informative stations. We collaborated with Plan Be, our Firefighter Academy, and the University of Miami Clinic to provide students with valuable health information and incentives. We even had a DJ to bring students together and encourage them to step out of their comfort zones.
The preparation and planning for this event were truly extraordinary. Students from our Health Science Academy joined forces to not only honor our teacher but to represent people across the globe. My peers created a multitude of posters that visually conveyed the significance of breast cancer and the importance of health awareness. Our primary objective was to bring our community together and raise awareness about breast cancer and all types of cancer, and I can confidently say that we achieved this goal through months of dedicated preparation.
